Why are Republicans so awful at picking Supreme Court justices?

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.’s decision to side with the court’s liberal bloc and uphold Obamacare raises an important question for conservatives: Why are Republicans so awful at picking Supreme Court justices? Democrats have been virtually flawless in appointing reliable liberals to the court. Yet Republicans, more often than not, appoint justices who vote with the other side on critical decisions.

Just compare the records over the last three decades. Democrats have appointed four justices — Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen G. Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. All have been consistent liberals on the bench. Republicans, by contrast, have picked seven justices. Of Ronald Reagan’s three appointees (Sandra Day O’Connor, Antonin Scalia and Anthony M. Kennedy) only Scalia has been a consistent conservative. George H.W. Bush appointed one solid conservative (Clarence Thomas) and one disastrous liberal (David Souter). With George W. Bush’s appointments of Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Roberts, conservatives thought finally they had broken the mold and put two rock-ribbed conservatives on the bench — until last week, that is, when Roberts broke with the conservatives and cast the deciding vote to uphold the largest expansion of federal power in decades.

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Why is the Democratic record so consistent while the Republican record is so mixed? For one thing, the whole legal and political culture pushes the court to the left. Conservatives are pariahs if they vote against the left on certain issues. But if they cross over vote with the left, they are hailed as statesmen. Just look the pre-emptive attacks on the Roberts Court when everyone thought it was about to strike down Obamacare — and contrast that with all the accolades Roberts is now receiving from his erstwhile critics. Before the decision he was threatening to plunge the nation into a political crisis. Today he is praised for his “humility,” “restraint,” being “brave” and “judicial modesty.” Meanwhile, many conservatives are twisting themselves in knots to defend or explain his vote. Not a chance the left would do the same if one of the court’s liberals had voted to overturn Obamacare. There is no penalty for voting left, but there is for voting right.

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Someone should have told Johnny boy the motto of Ken Titus: "Now don't be a whussy."

True, what I would like to know is why we (on the right) should give a damn what they say about us? John Roberts was under so much pressure! Pressure(?)...what they were going to write bad things about him? He couldn't stand up to Bill Maher, E.J." Dionne, the Washington press corp.? Give Me A Break! If it were me I'd tell them where to go, and what they can do when they get there....which it one reason I'll never be in that position.

Rush said yesterday that there are many theories out there about "why" Roberts broke faith and betrayed but he would only quote the already published ones.
So - get the foil hat ready - how about a subtle form of blackmail pressure to expose something about Roberts that would show his innate leaning on certain issues. ummmmmm??? and that is why his stubborn stance and explanation that did not satisfy Kennedy.